In another cancer-related paper in Nature‘s advance, online edition, a Columbia University-led research team used bioinformatics to home in on two transcription factors acting in cahoots to promote the formation and invasion of an aggressive type of glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor that has a so-called mesenchymal gene expression signature. The researchers found that the transcription factors STAT3 and C/EBPbeta spur this transformation, which is linked to poor outcomes for patients. Without the two transcription factors, though, the signature disappears — as does tumor aggressiveness. “These results show that the activation of a small regulatory module is necessary and sufficient to initiate and maintain an aberrant phenotypic state in cancer cells,” they write.

Microbes were the focus of a paper by researchers with the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea, who reported on the first 56 microbial genomes to be sequenced through that project. The group has already found new proteins and protein families and say their results support the validity of phylogeny-based sequencing — not only learning more about how microbes and microbial communities function, but also for informing future biofuel and other research. “[T]argeting microorganisms for genome sequencing solely on the basis of phylogenetic considerations offers significant far-reaching benefits in diverse areas,” senior author Jonathan Eisen and his co-workers write. Our sister publication GenomeWeb Daily Newshas more here.